Is Lack of Sleep Keeping the Weight On?

Find out if not catching enough zzz’s is thwarting your weight loss efforts.

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By Stacy Garay

I’m so in tune with my body now that if I begin to feel the slightest bit off, I start going down my checklist: Did I drink enough water? Did I eat healthy meals? Did I get my exercise in? But once I go through those questions, I ask myself another huge one: Have I been getting enough sleep? Resting helps your body restore itself—if you don’t get enough you aren’t going to feel 100 percent. Look at the following actions. If you do them you probably aren’t getting enough sleep:

•Hitting the snooze button consistently on your alarm clock

•Yawning uncontrollably and at inappropriate times

•Feeling sluggish in the afternoon

•Getting drowsy while driving

•Experiencing memory lapses, irritability, and low energy

Does that sound like you? If so, try to avoid caffeine and alcohol for the six hours before bedtime and keep a regular sleep schedule (going to bed and waking up around the same time every day).

Our 2011 Weight Loss Diary writer, Stacy, is a 35-year-old former teacher who is looking to get healthy and boost her self-esteem over the next year. Follow along as she goes after her goal!